Sorrento House 1

Sorrento House 1 by Vibe Design Group is the Australian Beach house reborn

Vibe Design Group won two awards in the BDAV’s 2016 Building Design Awards for their Sorrento House 1 project: Residential Design: New Houses Over $1M construction cost. and Most Innovative Kitchen Design. The project also achieved a commendation in the National Association of Building Designers 2016 Awards in the category of Best New Residential Design over $1M construction cost.

Sorrento House 1 on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula is the Australian Beach house reborn. A well-honed palette of materials is introduced, their application modulated masterfully and subtly. Timber battening twists to become shuttering for windows. A cast concrete wall articulates the point of entry while the low-slung, ocean grey roof constructed from seamless custom Colorbond®, offers sinuous and stylish protection from seaward weather.

“Clients who seek us out are looking for someone who can take a unique approach to their property,” explains Vibe Design’s director Michael O’Sullivan, “and this property was no exception. The young family were looking for a beach house with a difference.”

Vibe’s approach set out to redefine the hallmark elements of a traditional beach house to produce a modern version. Because the site sloped significantly down from street level, the roof became a defining form for the project.

But Vibe’s twist was to conceive of it not as one, but two asymmetrical forms that take the place of the usual verandah at the entry and rear. The classic holiday home verandah and deck reconceived into contemporary minimalist massing. Michael says this form became the “hero of the situation: it looks great, and it provides shelter and protection.”

It might sound counter-intuitive but Michael says that it was by paying close attention to detail that the gracious minimalism of this residence was achieved. “We apply a distinctive design awareness and thinking to our projects.”

The Judges agreed. They said: “the asymmetric angular lines of this modern beach house is a spacious synthesis of timber, concrete and steel used sensitively and is assertively defined by the black window detailing. A fabulous juxtaposition of cast concrete walls that looks strong yet feel soft when combined with timber panelling and floors that feel bold yet look comfortable.

This is a well-resolved design that permeates right through to the interior design and decoration. A stunning three-bedroom home with a thoughtful kitchen design, a spacious gym, supportive storage, inviting living rooms and expansive decking that invites entertaining by the fire-place and pool respectively. The house demonstrates that modesty and luxury can be reconciled through good design. Luxurious practicality and a clean aesthetic make this project deserving of its Awards.”

About the Kitchen

The Judges said this was a sleek monolithic kitchen with a restrained palette of relaxed materials and strong rectangular forms.

The bold black tapware, wine rack and window frame give definition to the working wall where the white cupboards almost float from the concrete wall.

The application of drawers provides practical and easy-to-access storage. There are no interruptions to the island bench providing an expansive area to prepare and serve.

The kitchen’s design is simple yet bold, with a sleek rectangular block of timber cabinetry supporting a substantial concrete bench top and water fall end. Integrated appliances and a butler’s pantry maintain the clean structure and the mess, away from view.

A kitchen that will be enjoyed each day, and wonderful for serving and entertaining guests in this modern beach house.